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The Magician

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A lustrous dark red London ale with complex notes of toasted caramel, raisins, chocolate and roasted toffee. Very light hop additions let the malt characters carry the whole experience. 6.8% ABV, 15 IBU, from Short's in Bellaire, Michigan. Short's was established in 2004.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Mild15 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedcarameltoasty
roasted
caramel
toasty
chocolate
malty
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted caramel and roasted malt character, followed by subtle notes of dark fruit and chocolate.
also:hoppy
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Magician

◎ Appearance

The Magician presents a lustrous dark red hue, clear and well-defined in the glass. A modest cream-colored head settles quickly but leaves gentle lacing on the sides. Carbonation appears moderate, with fine bubbles rising steadily through the body.

dark redclearfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted caramel and roasted malt character, followed by subtle notes of dark fruit and chocolate. Light hop presence adds a gentle spice backdrop, but the malt-forward profile dominates entirely. There is no aggressive or pungent quality; the aromas remain composed and inviting.

toasted caramelroasted maltdark fruitsubtle spice

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with caramel sweetness and roasted toffee forming the core flavor. Mid-palate deepens into chocolate and raisin notes, while restrained bitterness (15 IBU) keeps the profile balanced without demanding attention. The malt carries the entire experience, with hops serving only as a gentle frame.

caramel sweetnessroasted toffeechocolatebalanced

◑ Finish

The finish is moderate in length, lingering with warm toasted malt and a whisper of cocoa. Aftertaste remains clean and slightly sweet, without harshness or excessive dryness.

toasted warmthclean finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
82
Appearance
75
Finish
75
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with The Magician

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About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, caramel, toasty character as The Magician will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Amber Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →